Headaches / Migraines

Headaches are another very common clinical complaint encountered in our office. The diagnosis of headaches can sometimes be complex because there are numerous types of headaches that are classified in the literature. There are classic migraines, which are preceded by some type of visual or neurological event called an aura. There are cluster headaches, vascular headaches, tension headaches, and headaches that may be a byproduct of food sensitivities or allergic reactions. Thankfully, most headaches are related to muscle tension, which is a condition that can very successfully be addressed with chiropractic therapy. The upper neck very often plays a role in headache activity, so improvements rendered to the cervical spine from both a joint function standpoint as well as muscular standpoint, tend to yield good results. Results are characterized by reduced frequency of headaches, reduced intensity, and reduced duration of headache activity.

Since muscle tension headaches are the most common form of abnormality we encounter, having a massage therapist on staff is also very useful to address those headaches that are not cooperating adequately with chiropractic alone. In addition, acupuncture and dry needling techniques can also be useful in improving headache symptoms. If a problem proves to be resistant to conservative intervention, further testing such as laboratory tests and MRI are often useful in further investigating and diagnosing the condition.

Chiropractic can be useful in addressing the acute headache syndrome when a patient presents with a headache that does not seem to want to go away as expected, as well as with chronic headache syndromes whereby patients are experiencing multiple headaches per week or multiple headaches per month. Diet and nutritional components can also be addressed to further assist with the headache management process.

VertigoVertigo involves disequilibrium which may be interpreted as dizziness or lack of spatial orientation and can sometimes be very difficult to diagnose. On occasion, the cervical spine can be related to vertigo activity, and as such, treatment to the cervical spine can be useful. A type of vertigo commonly encountered in our office is benign positional vertigo which is caused by silt-like deposits in the inner ear called otoliths which are provoking some of the inner canals of the ears. Dr. Downs is familiar with the Epley maneuvers which are sometimes very successful in treating vertigo episodes. Additionally, we work closely with ear, nose, and throat specialists if a patient is not responding to the more conservative protocols of treatment for vertigo. There has also been some success in managing vertigo with acupuncture protocols.

TinnitusOr ringing in the ears, can be difficult to diagnosis at times. Sometimes it is reflective of hearing loss and it is important that patients have a proper ear, nose, and throat assessment and hearing test preliminarily to address tinnitus. This can be treated utilizing chiropractic techniques mostly focusing upon the cervical spine and perhaps utilizing acupuncture in the ear region, which has been successful in some cases. Many patients do not realize that we see tinnitus on a regular basis and have had success in managing its severity in a number of cases.

Post Stroke PatientsPost stroke patients typically have a lot of residual neurological abnormalities. The experience of a chiropractor in evaluating neurological symptoms helps in identifying what aspects of the post stroke syndrome may be amenable to conservative treatment. We have had some success in helping patients improve gait, restore some better function and/or strength, or generally feel better and have less pain as it may relate to a post stroke syndrome. Very often, these patients are left with permanent deficits and functional abnormalities; however, the goal of chiropractic intervention is to minimize the effects of such limitations and optimize the patient’s day-to-day function.